Luis Manuel Aviles, 48, a native of Nicaragua, was released from Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention on Tuesday, according to his family. Aviles had been arrested by federal immigration officials on Saturday after entering the country illegally, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
The arrest gained widespread national attention after Aviles's son, Joshua Aviles, a U.S. Navy sailor aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, revealed he had learned of his father's detention while in his ninth month of deployment. Joshua Aviles described the situation as "heartbreaking" and posted on Facebook that he did not know how he could mentally continue working 12-plus-hour days knowing his father was in immigration custody.
The USS Abraham Lincoln has set a U.S. military record for uninterrupted time at sea. The carrier has also been at the center of reports concerning morale issues and subpar conditions faced by sailors, including supply shortages and deteriorating mental health among those serving onboard.
The timing of Aviles's detention—while his son was deployed in the Middle East—sparked intense backlash after the Associated Press reported on the case. Joshua Aviles announced his father's release in a Facebook post, stating: "Luis ya ha regresado con nuestra familia. Estamos muy agradecidos por todo el apoyo que han brindado tanto a Luis como a Josh durante esta situación," which translates to "Luis has returned with our family. We are very grateful for all the support that has been provided to both Luis and Josh during this situation."
The family added that it would take time to be together while awaiting Joshua's return from deployment and requested understanding and respect during that period.
The Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement have not provided an explanation for why Aviles was detained or what prompted his subsequent release.
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